The United States Coast
Guard Auxiliary is the civilian component
of Coast Guard Forces. Founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the US
Coast Guard Reserves and re-designated the Auxiliary in 1941. It
serves you throughboating-safety classes, vessel safety
checks,andsafety
patrolson the water and in the air. Members of the
Auxiliary have no law-enforcement powers and issue no permits. The
26,000 volunteer members (men and women) donate thousands of hours in
support of Coast Guard missions.

The Coast Guard does more than just Search and
Rescue, and with the exception of direct law enforcement and military
action, the Auxiliary is there, side by side, working with regular and
reserve Coast Guard units, every step of the way. We're
found in every part of the United States, just where Recreational
Boating is found.

The National Organization is broken down along the
lines of the Coast Guard Districts (some districts are further
sub-divided for ease of administration). Districts are then sub-divided
into Divisions, with these units further sub-divided into Flotilla's.
The Flotilla is the mainstay of the Auxiliary, and every member must
belong to a Flotilla.

We're serious about Boating Safely and Boating
Safety. We providepublic educationon a wide-range of
boating topics. We even have programs for KIDS!

In addition to being a major team member of the Coast
Guard (our numbers exceed the current strength of the USCG), we are a
social and fraternal organization.

For more information and to
request a sticker please
click here. This
is a PDF 5 slide presentation. Last slide has order information.

URGENT USCG
MARINE SAFETY ALERT

Walter Kidde has issued a recall of 134
different models of Kidde brand fire extinguishers manufactured between
January 1, 1973 and August 15, 2017, including models that were
previously recalled in March 2009 and February 2015. The extinguishers
were sold in red, white and silver cylinder colors and are rated as
either ABC or BC. The extinguishers were sold nationwide
online and at brick and mortar outlets.

The hazards associated with the recalled fire
extinguishers are that they can become clogged or require excessive
force to discharge and can fail to activate during a fire emergency.In
addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact
hazard.

Take My Flares, Please!

Here is
what you need to do with those expired pyrotechnic
flares, which the Coast Guard requires to be replaced every 3 to
4 years.

Pyrotechnic flares are classified
as hazardous waste, so you cannot dump them in the trash, shoot
them off like fireworks, or fire them at sea (unless it’s an
emergency!). So, what is a mariner to do?

Maine’s Fire Marshal has a solution!

State Fire Marshal Joe Thomas
encourages boaters to call his office at
(207) 626-3870. His staff
will collect and transport expired flares to an EPA-approved kiln that
had been purchased to incinerate fireworks and other incendiary devices.
This service is free to boaters.

The flares disposal program is a voluntary addition to the staff’s
regular duties of investigation and enforcement, so it may take a week
or two for the Fire Marshal’s office to work out arrangements to pick up
the expired flares.

Those who have used this free service were impressed. Lifelong sailor
Malcolm Poole, a board member of Friends of Casco Bay, comments, “Having
the Fire Marshall’s office willing to offer this service is a great
improvement over storing expired pyrotechnics at home. I found them
accommodating and interested in safe disposal of expired flares.”

If you would like to give feedback on this process please use our "Contact
Us" web page.

***Recently expired Flares may be kept as backup and need not be disposed
of!***
*** As long as you do have the required nonexpired flares on board! ***